A Cleethorpes family whose flight was cancelled by Ryanair only 45 minutes before boarding have described being “locked away like animals” as they waited to leave the airport.

The Roffee family, of Barnett Place, were due to set off from Leeds Bradford Airport to Spain on Tuesday, September 12 to celebrate Simon's birthday, when their flight was cancelled less than an hour before boarding.

Kellie Roffee, 35, her husband Simon, and her four children were then forced to wait at the departures gate for almost an hour before they could be escorted back through passport control.

Pictured back home in Barnett Place, Cleethorpes are Kellie, Simon and Ryan Roffee with Casey and Ella Paxton, not pictured is Amelia-Rose Symonds.

The cancellation - due to an air traffic control strike - came just days before the airline announced it was to cancel up to 50 flights per day due to a combination of a holiday rota issue, bad weather, and air traffic control strikes.

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“We checked in, got through security, and we were sitting in the VIP lounge when 45 minutes before boarding we received a text message from Ryanair saying that unfortunately the flight had been cancelled.”

Kellie's children were devastated their holiday was cancelled only 45 minutes before boarding

Boarding staff at the gate initially reassured holidaymakers that their flight would go ahead before confirming that it had been cancelled.

Passengers were offered a choice of a full refund or replacement flights—neither of which Kellie and Simon have received despite making numerous calls to the airline.

They have since been told the money will be returned to the company they booked their holiday through, On The Beach, within 28 working days, but still have no indication of when they will receive their refund.

She said: “We left our house at 9:30am that morning and returned home at 9:30pm.

“For 12 hours we have been through hell and back, I just can’t believe we’ve been treated this way.”

Kellie Roffee and family pose on her wedding day

Ryanair told the Grimsby Telegraph that all affected passengers have already been refunded.

They said: "This flight from Leeds Bradford to Malaga was regrettably cancelled due to a French Air Traffic Control Strike. The customers in question have been fully refunded.

“Ryanair sincerely apologised to all customers affected by this French ATC strike, which was completely beyond our control.”